Working while doing a medicine degree

Tom · Veteran Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Adelaide

If you guys get in to Med, do you plan to work at all during the degree? I imagine the degree to be a hell of a lot more demanding than normal undergrad degrees - obviously - and having a part-time job could be really hard to maintain. How do you plan to support yourself financially? (Apparently this is a question that sometimes gets asked in the interviews would you believe!)

For those still living at home (like myself) it is obviously potentially a lot easier, but even so, some cashola needs to be earnt/had/spent etc... How to manage it all when doing a degree that is probably more demanding than most full-time jobs, what with the contact, then the study and exams etc. etc.???

Any thoughts?

Adrian · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:06 am Post subject:

I've been studying while living out of home on almost nothing but youth allowance, and I don't find that the money situation is too much of an issue. Just prepare to be poor!

I currently work in health care when it suits me - very infrequently - but next year I plan to try working part-time in pathology. Obviously I will need to gague whether or not my studies suffer. It's nice to have the extra money (and it's actually going to be an essential for books, social events etc), but if need be, I can survive on government assistance.

drjv · Veteran Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 90 Location: Brisbane

Since I finished my undergrad in Feb 07 i have been working full time since, and I am just saving all the money i earn this year. It should be enough to cover me for 2 years of med paying hecs up front and all. There will be a big cash outlay at the start of the first year having to buy all the books and equipment, and probably another substantial outlay at the start of the 3rd year for the clinical materials. My approach this year is to live like I am poor while earning a fair bit of cash so that i dont struggle so much financially when I am (hopefully!) in med. Also living at home helps, which I do at present. Although if i get into griffith I may buy a town house near the uni so I spend more time studying and less travelling.

SpaceAce73 · Veteran Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Melbourne

Having spoken to medical students currently enrolled in graduate entry medical programs, it is definitely possible to work up to 10 hours a week. I guess this would cover the rent.

chiiba · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:21 am Post subject:

I'm also working full-time at the moment as well. I graduated last year and plan to sit GAMSAT in 08 so I'm trying to save money so that I can afford not to work (or at least only some small casual job in year 1 and maybe year 2 of med).

I know a few people who work (casual) but admittedly they're only in year 1 or 2 of med. From what I understand, it's a little hard once you're in 3rd or 4th year... I'm really aiming to not work casually in those last 2 years.

Plus living at home with the folks is also a big help... Very Happy

I guess I'll have to send them on a cruise or a nice overseas trip (once I eventually make some money) to say thank you for putting up with me for another 4 year degree...lol

ErikaF · Rookie Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 6

If money is an issue the first thing I would suggest is to forget about paying the HECS upfront. Its $8000 a year that you add to a healthier existence. I figure that can look after itself when I am working.

DrBabe · Rookie Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

I will be a student at ND Sydney next year.

Last week I contacted ND and asked about working whilst studying. I am a teacher and thought I could work one day a week...

Apparently NO! There are 33 contact hours in first year and the study load is 25-30 hrs.

Basically, I was told to forget about having a job.

I am freaking out about how I will cope financially. I will not be paying my HECS upfront. The Government can wait until I graduate.

AxeHandle · Rookie Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne

I will be a student at UMelb next year. This is an extract from the offer of placement:

"This offer is for a place in a full time course and the expectation is that your main commitment will be to your medical studies. Should you need to obtain part time employment during the academic year, you must obtain approval from the faculty. Normally not more than eight hours employment per week will be approved."

Luckily I still live at home with the folks, and now have the first semester of next year to seek full time employment. Looks like I'll be giving up my entire social life once med starts, and forget the greyhounds. Hope it's all worth it Wink

It IS what I've wanted to do my whole life, so I'm assuming it will be

macca_sti · Grizzled Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Bris

Like space ace said 10 hours per week is probably do able. Remeber that there are things like Austudy which gives some money and there is a threhold on how much you can earn before having that reduced. If you combine that you should be able to get enough supply of 2min noodles and pay the rent!

Lovebite · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

Makes it bloody nigh on impossible if your mature aged, and supporting a family.....

I wonder how the older GEMPs do it?

I'm 30, and have 2 kids part time. I have no plans to cut back on spending time with them, and I have to support myself.

I wonder if I will be able to do it?

anyone able to relate from personal experience?

(specifically people NOT living at home..... thats kind of cheating Wink

...)

Adrian · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:19 am Post subject:

A little update:

I'm not living at home, and not taking support from my parents. I get youth allowance (2 years off Austudy, yay!) and currently working two jobs - soon to be adding private group tuition to the list.
Things are going well, though I am from a science background. As long as you don't have a need top everyone in your cohort, you should be able to work, study and play well.

Lovebite · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

I was poking around the centrelink website last night, and gosh.... you can't earn much before they cut it back to nothing.

Even with a basic wage (I'm talking about a skilled wage, even part time) you'll get nothing from the government.

Its not much of a help from where I'm standing.... essentially, you have to restrict your earning o stay well below the poverty line to get anything.

WOW.

No problems.... I'll do it myself, I want to be a doctor more than I care about money anyway.... but don't blame me in a few years when my income is back up to where it is now, if I start avoiding as much tax as I can.

macca_sti · Grizzled Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Bris

Hey Adrian, quick question...how well do you know the centrelink system. Im only getting the at home rate for youth allowance at the moment because I am at home although I have been classed as independent. Once you hit 25 do you swap over to austudy? The way I was reading it was that you only get austudy if you start you study once you turn 25????

Can anyone enlighten me on this?

Adrian · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:51 am Post subject:

Oh man, that'd be right! Way back when I started getting YA (probably 6 years ago now) things were probably different with Austudy. I'm not too sure about your payment, maybe you get the full rate once you move out and start paying rent, and then you qualify for rent assistance, which isn't much anyway.
Does the Centrelink website help much?

macca_sti · Grizzled Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 148 Location: Bris

nah not really all that is seems to say is once your 25 you get austudy. I just think its crap because I have started studying this year but dont turn 25 until july. Had i started mid year I would have qualified...its a joke. I think it should be in the year you turn 25 and start studying